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Fire
Hazards
Normal fire prevention rules are of special
importance in an emergency. To keep fires from starting: Don't let
"junk" accumulate. Clean out attics, basements, closets and garages
frequently.
Check Electrical Wiring and Appliances.
Replace worn or frayed cords. Don't operate too many appliances on one
circuit. Don't string extension wires all over the house, and never
under rugs. Use irons and other heating appliances with caution.
Store Explosive or Flammable Materials Carefully
Outside. Never use gasoline, benzine, naphtha, and similar fluids
indoors or near flame: they will ignite readily from any kind of a
spark. Rags soaked with oil or turpentine sometimes catch fire by
themselves (this is called spontaneous ignition), and therefore should
never be left lying around.
Check Heating Devices. Many home fires are
started by faulty furnaces and stoves, cracked or rusted furnace pipes,
and sooty chimneys.
Don't Place Papers or Magazines on Radiators
or near stoves or fireplaces. Don't allow lampshades to touch electric
bulbs.
Be prepared before a fire occurs in your home by
developing a safe route for your family and conducting regular fire
drills.
First, decide upon two different exit paths.
If the first exit you try is blocked by fire and smoke, you are more
likely to remember to try the other exit if you've already planned two
ways of escape.
Second, select a specific place outside
where everyone will meet. Firefighters need to know who is safe and who
may not be. If your family meets in one place, you can quickly tell
firefighters if anyone is missing.
Fire
Safety
Having regular fire drills can help teach your
family to remember what to do in case of a fire. Follow these steps
during a fire and in case of a fire:
1. Stay low. Don't stand up. If you are in bed,
roll out and crawl low on the floor under the smoke.
2. Crawl to the door, using the wall as a guide.
Check the door for heat with the back of your hand before opening.
3. If a door is cool when you touch it, open it
only a crack so it can be shut quickly if there are flames or smoke on
the other side.
4. If the door is hot or smoke is seeping
underneath. Do Not Open the Door. Push a blanket, towel, robe or
other heavy clothing in the crack.
5. Using the wall as a guide, crawl to a window and
open it. Take a sheet or any large piece of fabric, wave it out the
window and shout for help. Or, if the window is low to the ground, climb
out of it.
6. When you escape a burning building, Never
return for something you forgot or to look for other people or a pet. Go
to the meeting place and stay there. Let a firefighter know immediately
if anyone is missing.
7. If firefighters are not at the fire scene yet,
call or tell someone to call 911. Do Not call from within your
house. Escape First.
Remember:
* Your job is to escape.
* Stay as low as possible.
* Take short breaths to avoid breathing in fumes
and smoke.
* Do not move toward smoke or fire.
* Signal others in the house by pounding on the
walls, floor and door. Shout. "Fire," but do this once you are
outside the heavy smoke.
Besides planning an escape route and conducting
fire drills, in home smoke detectors can save lives, too.
Smoke detectors can warn you that there is a
fire. However, it is important to keep fire detectors in proper working
order. Check and replace batteries every nine (9) to twelve (12) months.
A good way to remember this might be by changing the batteries every
daylight savings time change. Some units will generate a beeping sound
to indicate when the batteries need to be replaced.
Make sure to clean your smoke detector at least
once a year because dust can damage the unit. Also, test the detector
periodically by pushing the test button. This should be done at least
once every month. The National Bureau of Standards test shows untested
detectors loses about half of their dependability after a 10-year
period.
Wildfire
* Wildfires occur as a result of lightning or
man-made causes such as discarded cigarettes and campfires. A fire in
your home may spread to the forest. Homes in or near forested areas are
classified as being in the "Urban Interface".
* When you build or buy a home in one of the Urban
Interface areas, you have accepted the fact that these areas may have
poor access, native vegetation, steep sloops, and poor or no fire
fighting water supplies.
* In order to attempt to prevent a tragedy, you
need to be aware of wildfire hazards and what to do when a wildfire
occurs in your area.
Before
a Fire...
When moving to a new area, check with your
local Fire Department to determine the wildfire hazard in your area, and
what can be done to reduce the hazard.
* Obtain guidelines to create a "defensible space"
around your home and make other improvements to increase the chances
that it can survive a wildfire.
* Defensible space includes:
Reducing the hazard area of at least 30 ft. from
the home by:
Reducing density of surrounding forest.
Trimming branches.
Thinning tree and brush cover.
Removing dead limbs and other litter.
Maintaining an irrigated greenbelt.
Mowing dry grasses and weeds.
Cleaning your roof and gutters.
Pruning branches to 10 ft. above the ground.
* Other improvements include improving driveway
access and water supplies, having a fire resistive roof, enclosing
overhanging eaves and decks, spark arresters on chimney, etc.
Develop
a Fire Plan
* Create an evacuation plan that includes all
family members & animals. * Know where your escape routes are located.
* Know where you can find a safety zone in the
event it's too late to evacuate. Safety zones may be large areas where
little or no vegetation or other fuels exist.
* Prearrange normal and alternate ways to stay in
touch with family members who are not at home. Let relatives or friends
know your fire plan and check in as soon as you are able.
Provide
Equipment
* Pre-connect hoses to faucets. * Provide a ladder
long enough to reach the roof easily.
* Have one or more 5-pound multi-purpose
extinguishers readily available.
* Have protective clothing available for anyone who
is unable to evacuate before the first help arrives. This includes
cotton long-sleeved shirt or jacket and trousers; leather boots; gloves;
helmet or other head covering; goggles; and a handkerchief to provide
minimum protection for the lungs.
Before
the Fire Approaches Your House
* Call 911; don't assume that someone else has
already called. Describe the location of the fire, speak slowly, and
answer any questions asked by the dispatcher.
* Locate valuables that you will take with you if
asked to evacuate your home.
* Clear items that will burn from around the house.
Move them outside of your defensible space.
* Close all windows, doors, vents, shutters,
blinds, or heavy noncombustible window coverings to reduce radiant heat.
* Shut off any natural gas or propane tanks at the
source.
* Back your car into the driveway and roll up the
windows.
* Place valuable papers, mementoes and anything
"you can't live without into your car.
Evacuation
* If asked to evacuate by fire or law enforcement
personnel, or if you should decide to evacuate:
Turn outside lights on, and leave a light on
in every room.
Leave all outside doors unlocked to
allow firefighters to enter to fight a fire inside your home.
Open barn doors, fences, and other enclosed
areas to let large animals escape as necessary.
Leave the house as soon as possible, follow
directions given by firefighters or law enforcement personnel. If you
are told to go to a certain area, go there; don't go anywhere else.
If you are trapped at home, stay calm. As the
fire front approaches, go into your home. If your home catches fire,
evacuate.
Survival in Your Vehicle
* Roll up all windows and close air vents to
prevent smoke from entering your vehicle. * * Turn lights on and drive
slowly looking for other vehicles.
* Do not drive through heavy smoke or fire.
* If you are caught in fire, get on the floor and
cover up with a blanket or coat. Do not leave your vehicle until the
fire passes. Some smoke or sparks may enter vehicle, and air currents
may rock the car. Gas tanks rarely explode.
After
the Fire...
* Do not return to your home unless advised by
firefighters or law enforcement personnel.
* Check your home for any hot spots or small fires.
* Report any broken utilities to your utility
company.
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